Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Identify patients who would benefit from warfarin therapy.

• Apply a patient assessment algorithm for all patients receiving warfarin therapy.

• Gather and interpret patient-specific and laboratory data required to effectively manage patients.

• Collaborate with patients so that those patients understand how drugs, food, and lifestyle may impact their warfarin therapy.

• Collaborate with other health care professionals to individualize anticoagulation therapy for patients.

• Explain the rationale for anticoagulation in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and atrial fibrillation (AF).

• Design an individualized therapeutic plan for a patient starting on anticoagulation therapy.

• Implement a monitoring plan for patients requiring long-term warfarin therapy.